Why does animal welfare matter to our health?

How animals are treated and what they consume while they are alive directly affects the quality of the dairy and/or meat they produce.

Conventional meat in the US comes from animals fed a grain diet, based on corn and soy, which is unnatural for animals and lends itself to diseases. This typical diet, along with the crowded conditions in which factory-farmed animals often live is a recipe for discomfort and disease, including acidosis (acid indigestion), rumenitis (inflammation of the rumen), ulcers, paralysis, and liver abscesses. Animals with these ailments produce lower quality food for human consumption. To combat the many health issues that could arise, factory farm cows are given hormones to grow faster and antibiotics to treat their illnesses. A shocking 80% of the antibiotics in the U.S. are used on animals. Any meat that comes from animals treated with hormones and antibiotics can negatively affect a person’s pH and hormone levels.

By contrast, animals that are grass-fed and raised on pasture consume grass as they would in their natural state and live happier, healthier lives. The quality of their dairy and meat is much higher with higher levels of omega-3s and no traces of antibiotics or hormones.